Cowlposite beam



(No Model.)

H. C. HODGES.

COMPOSITE BEAM. No. 385,624. Patented July 3, 1888.

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HENRY C. HODGES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMPCSV'E BEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,624, dated July 3,18538.

Application tiled February Sl, 1F85. Sei ial No. 268,440. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, HENRY C. Hononsa cit i- Zen of the United States,residing at Detroit, county of Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Composite Beams; andI do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the sanne,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomalte and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specilication.

In the drawings, Figure l is a cross-section of a composite beamembodying my invention and representing how the same may be employed inconnection with bracing as licorjoists. Fig. 2 is a variation in whichthe metal is made to grasp the outer face of the wood at its edges. Fig.3 is another variation in which the beam embraces a wood element at oneedge, while its other edge is bent into tubular form. Fig. a illustratesa variation in which the wood element is embraced between the portionswhich constitute the web at the upper and lower edges of the beam. Fig.5 is another variation in which the wood is embraced between the partswhich constitute the web at its upper and lower edges, and the usualout'- standing flanges at these edges are dispensed with. Fig. o isanother variation in which the spaces between the two webs are made tocontain diagonal braces.

It is the purpose of my invention to produce a composite beam of woodand metal, the said beam designed to rely for strength more particularlyupon the metallic web, while the wood is employed to afford conveniencefor the attachment of ilooring, rooting, lathing, die., by simplynailing thereto.

In carrying out my invention, A A represents two metallic sheets. Thesesheets are rolled in such form that when placed side by side they willconstitute, in general appearance, an eye-beam, the outer edges, a,being carried forward parallel with the web, so as to embrace a strip ofwood, B. As thus made up, the sheets A A and the wood element B may befastened together by bolts or rivets a', and there may, in additionthereto, be bolts or rivets f, uniting the sheets along the web, andthese are passed through intermediate thimbles, a, or other equivalentmetallic separating part, which will serve to hold. the webs apart fromcach other at the points where they are thus bolted or riveted, and sotruss and stifl'en the web portion ot' the composite beam.

It is apparent that a composite beam ot' this construction is welladapted for all building purposes where strength and cheapness ofmaterial are essential. They afford at once the strength of metal beams,while they possess all the conveniences of wooden beams. lt used asjoist's,tlicy afford ready means for nailing to them both the l'loorandthe lnthing,and the diagonal bracing C may, if desired, be readilyadjusted thereto. If used as studding, they possess the santefacilities, affording strength of metal, yet readily adapted for lathingupon both sides-as, for instance, in partitions, or for ceiling upon oneside and lathing upon the other. So, also, in rootingrafters, theyaitord the same features of strength and convenience. In addition tothestrength and convenience of these composite beams, they are in mostlocalities practically lire-proof', since the exposed portions in almostall localities where they would be used would be metal. It is alsoapparent that a Very light metal-such as would be sufficient to giveadequate strength along the web-might not be sutil cien tly strong togive the requisite strength to the upper and lower edges of the beam,which become, respectively, the compression and extension members ot'the beam. rlhese members, however, are greatly rc-enforced by the woodelements,and so the composite beam as a whole, although made ofcomparatively light material, is exceedingly strong.

The invention admits ol" many variations withoutdeparting therefrom-as,for instance, theA metallic sheets may be shaped 'to embrace and lapover the exposed surface of the wood, as shown in Fig. 2, and so holdthe wood without other fastening, it being only necessary to bolt orrivet the web portions of the metallic sheets.

Again, as shown in Fig. 3, the sheet maybe bent into a tube at one edgeand flanged outward to receive the wood element at the opposite edge.This construction might answer well for roof-girders and in otherlocalities where the lower edge ofthe beam remains un-.

used and exposed.

Again, as shown in Fig. 4, the metal might IOO be bent to form webportions and with simply outstanding flanges at their upper and loweredges, and the wood elements be embraced between the webs at the upperand lower edges; or, as shown in Fig. 5, the wood element might beembraced between the web portions of the metal at the upper and loweredges andthe outstanding ilanges be entirely omitted. This latter l'ormwould suffice in Very many locali ties-as, for instance, for studding,flooring, joists, and the like-and would constitute a very cheap andeffective beam. This is applicable in all localities where joists,studding, girders, and frame-work of any kind are required; and, insteadof fastening the webs together or the wood to the metal by bolts orrivets,thcy.may be fastened in any other con venient way.

lt will be understood that instead of wood any other similarsubstance-such as papiermache or the like-might be employed, and although wood is doubtless the most convenient for the purpose,l wouldhave such other substances regarded as equivalents.

These beams have upon or embodied between their webs braces D, as showniu Fig.

6. These braces will serve to stiilen the beam very materially, eitherthroughout its whole length or atany particular portion of its lengthwhere it maybe subjected to great strain. The webs are riveted or boltedthrough the braces.

Vhat I claim is- 1. A composite wood and metal beam consisting of twosheets of metal bent to form, when placed side by side, a web, and inconnection therewith wood elements embraced between their edges, saidmetal sheets being united along` their web portions by bolts or rivetspassing therethrough and through intermediate metallic separating parts,substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with a composite wood and metal beam', of diagonalbraces upon or embodied between the web and bolted or riveted thereto,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l sign this speciticatiou in the presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY C. HODGES.

lVit-n esses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, SAMUEL E. THOMAS.

